5 common pool care mistakes

Not testing the pool chemistry often enough. Invest in a pool water test kit, test strips and test frequently. This is especially true if you’re caring for the pool on your own. If you neglect to test the chemistry it is much harder to bring in line. Frequent testing makes it much easier to adjust and get the water chemistry where it belongs.

Skimping on the number of hours you run the pool pump. The pump should be run at least eight hours a day. It may need to be run longer depending on the size of the pool and the size of the pump. Ask us for a more accurate number of hours that you should run it to completely turn the water over several times a day.

Putting shock directly into the pool water. When you do this you run the risk of damaging the pool liner; this is especially true if the granules of the shock settle to the bottom of the pool. Shock granules can also cause a vinyl liner to become brittle and this could lead to leaks. Dissolve the shock in a bucket of water before you add it to the pool. Use warm water to dissolve the shock. Add the chemicals to the water — not the water to the chemicals. Use eye and hand protection when using shock.

Go easy on the backwashing. When you backwash the swimming pool filter, it takes a LOT of water. Backwashing the pool is a major undertaking and not one that needs to be done with any regularity. In many cases, backwashing is done when the pressure guage denotes changes to the pump pressure. Many pool owners have a pool contractor do the backwashing when it’s necessary.

Running an automatic or robotic pool cleaner when the pool is full of algae. Algae is a plague to pool owners, but running an automatic pool vacuum will do more harm than good as it will stir up the algae and make it even harder to remove. Again, many pool owners find that when the pool is full of algae and has turned green or black because of it, it is easier to call on the services of a pool pro to help address it.